Tuesday, April 15, 2008

SPICE Honored

April 15, 2008SPICE Honored by City of Lubbock

Lubbock Mayor David Miller and the City of Lubbock recognized the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) Friday (April 10) for its exemplary efforts in bringing the international sport of chess to Lubbock and Texas Tech University.

Lubbock Mayor David Miller and the City of Lubbock recognized the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) Friday (April 10) for its exemplary efforts in bringing the international sport of chess to Lubbock and Texas Tech University.

SPICE, named after the institution’s director and chess Grandmaster Susan Polgar, specializes in chess education, research, technology and outreach.

"We are proud to receive this recognition from the City Council and Mayor David Miller, who has been a big supporter of SPICE right from the beginning," said Paul Truong, director of marketing for SPICE. "This means that we are making a positive impact in the community, especially for young people, and bringing pride to Texas Tech.

The center will host a Chess Summer Camp for Girls and the 5th Annual Susan Polgar National Invitation for Girls in late July, as well as the 2nd Annual SPICE Cup International Grandmaster Tournament in September, which is internationally recognized as the most prestigious chess event hosted in the U.S.

Polgar has won four women’s World Chess Championships, five Olympic gold medals, and is the only world champion in history to win the triple-crown (classical, blitz and rapid women’s world championships). At the age of 21, she was the first woman to earn the grandmaster title.